One of the things I was also going to do through this 365-day writing project, was to follow along with Julie Powell’s The Julie/Julia Project blog throughout the year. I’m not going to beat myself up over the fact that I have only read 34 days worth of her blog. From designing and maintaining a website, all the imagery, newsletters, and portfolio pieces I have put together, not to mention having written over 134K words since November 4th of last year, in the end I am left with plenty to celebrate where accomplishments are concerned. Add onto that taking my first writing course in some 16 or so years, a 15-day epic RV adventure through west coast America, our usual two-week summer cottage vacation, coaching baseball and sitting on the executive for our baseball association, replacing our RV and renovating the new one, boat repairs, house repairs, getting kids to and from school, and everything else life throws your way. Nobody should be surprised if I hibernate for a year after all of that. I also read her book, Julie & Julia so there was no shortage of time spent inspired by Julie’s talents.
Still, although I found her to be an angry, unsympathetic person in what I have read of her final tweets before her sudden death, reading what I have of her blog, and articles praising her writing from her peers after her death, she was a very talented writer and blogger who revolutionized food blogging.
I did spend some time the past couple of days reading a few more posts from her blog. I hope I continue to check in from time to time and eventually finish reading this series and her other blogs that followed. I believe there is much to learn about writing, finding your passion, pursuing your dreams and fighting through adversity to cross the finish line of the goals we set for ourselves.
I wonder how her husband, parents, and friends are doing? We all have beliefs and ideals that we are passionate about, but in the end we all have people who love us and who hold similar values.
Like Julia Child, Julie may have not liked me in life, but I still admire her work in death.